Committees and Agendas

Committee recommendations are voted upon.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: economic development policies and programs; including the Office of Economic Development, small business development and support, Business Improvement Areas, workforce development, and improving access and opportunities to education and training for low- and middle-income workers, youth and communities of color;civil rights issues, including the Office for Civil Rights, except for issues related to tenant rights and protections; arts and cultural activities, nightlife issues, and special events; film and music activities; and the equitable development initiative and its projects.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: the financial management and policies of the City and its agents, including the operating and capital budgets, levies, taxes, revenue, audits, and judgments and claims against the City (the Finance and Housing Committee is the Finance Committee required by the Seattle City Charter); oversight of the City’s public works construction projects except as otherwise specified; the City Employees’ Retirement System; the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, including the Seattle Animal Shelter, the City’s fleets and facilities, the Customer Service Bureau, and other administrative functions; housing policies and programs, including the Office of Housing, investing and promoting the development and preservation of affordable housing for workers, families, and retirees; the Office of Labor Standards; and monitoring implementation of the priority hire program and promoting worker protections.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: regional, state, federal, and other governmental matters including Charter review, code improvement, the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, and rules of the City Council; City personnel issues, including labor-management relations, collective bargaining agreements, and other issues related to salary rates, hours, and other conditions of employment; the Office of the Employee Ombud; the City Auditor; the Office of Hearing Examiner; ethics and elections, including the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission; immigrant and refugee rights, including the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs; and education and early learning initiatives, including the Department of Education and Early Learning, the City’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, with a goal of improving City schools and student success rates and reducing achievement gaps.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: planning and land use, including comprehensive planning, community development, zoning, design, and land use regulations, including the Office of Planning and Community Development, and the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, except for issues related to rental regulations; Major Institution Master Plans and quasi-judicial land use decisions; and the Department of Neighborhoods, including neighborhood planning, engagement and outreach, funding opportunities, and historic preservation.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: parks, community centers, and public grounds (including the Seattle Parks and Recreation, Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium); the Seattle Center; the Seattle Public Library system; the Office of the Waterfront; and Native American issues, including housing affordability, health and mental health services, services for youth, access to justice, art and culture, and historic preservation.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: criminal justice and law enforcement, with special emphasis on programs and strategies to reduce crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and youth violence (including the Seattle Police Department and the City Attorney’s Office); police accountability (including the Office of Police Accountability, Office of Inspector General, and the Community Police Commission), and the implementation of the Settlement Agreement between the Department of Justice and the City of Seattle regarding the Seattle Police Department; coordination with municipal, regional, state, and federal agencies engaged in public safety issues (including the Seattle Municipal Court); fire prevention and suppression, and emergency medical services; emergency preparedness, management, and response; youth justice, alternatives to youth detention, and alternative housing options to youth incarceration; human services including but not limited to: child care, aging, and disability services; and the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program; and local and regional public health.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: urban sustainability, including the Office of Sustainability and Environment, climate justice, conservation programs, green buildings, and food policy; and renters’ rights, including but not limited to legislation intended to protect renters facing gentrification, economic evictions, excessive background checks, and unaffordable rent.

To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: the operations of the Seattle Department of Transportation; transportation issues and projects affecting the City of Seattle including transit service, policies, and planning; pedestrian and bicycle programs and planning; transportation system maintenance and repair; traffic control; use of the City right-of-way including permits and vacations; parking policies; neighborhood transportation planning; and freight mobility planning; coordination of transportation issues and representation of the City’s interests on transportation with the federal government, the State of Washington, King County, Sound Transit, and the Puget Sound Regional Council; and water, drainage, wastewater, and solid waste services provided by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), including SPU environmental services and utility rates, regional water resources, endangered species recovery plans, waterway cleanup, and green stormwater infrastructure; City information technology planning, implementation, and organization; cable telecommunications services and planning; broadband telecommunications planning and implementation; technology grants; Seattle Channel; seattle.gov; and citizen technology literacy and access; Seattle City Light, including but not limited to City Light finances, energy utility rates, resource matters, energy policy, regional matters, air pollution regulations, and alternative energy sources;

The City Council's Select Labor Committee, combined with the Executive Labor Committee appointed by the Mayor, constitute the City's Labor Relations Policy Committee.

Review legislation relating to campaign finance reforms and make a final recommendation to the City Council.